SPORTS

Wehrlein turned down HWA FE chance in favour of pursuing F1 return

AzerTAg.az

DTM driver Pascal Wehrlein missed out on a Mercedes-backed long-term drive in Formula E because he is focused on making a Formula 1 return, says HWA boss Ulrich Fritz, according to autosport.com.

The former Manor and Sauber F1 driver completed a half-day run with HWA ahead of the team, which will join FE next season as a precursor to Mercedes' arrival as a works operation in 2019/20, making its debut in the electric championship in season five.

Fritz explained HWA had "talked to him" and that Wehrlein also delivered "a good performance" during his FE run, "but at the time when we would have liked to have made the decision, Pascal's focus was very clear: to return to F1".

Wehrlein, who has also tested for the Mahindra FE squad that is yet to announce its season five line-up, will leave the Mercedes motorsport family at the end of 2018.

It is understood Mercedes wanted Wehrlein to commit to a three-year FE programme, but he did not want to enter into a long-term deal that would hinder his chances of returning to F1.

"I don't want to set up a Formula E team where, after two races, a driver says that he'll be going straight back because he wants to enter F1," said Fritz.

HWA announced Gary Paffett as its first FE driver for season five, with news on its second driver expected in the coming days.